#good news: autoimmune disease becomes more and more unlikely.

[tjerra14]

my body, at the slightest hint of having the opportunity to maybe relax a little: bring out the PAIN

[justkidneying]

Why you can't actually transplant eyes (yet)

This one didn't win the poll, but someone specifically asked for this topic, so I'll write about it anyways. Also, as someone who is working towards being a trauma surgeon, this is a topic I'm really passionate about.

So, I think a lot of people have a misconception about whether or not it is possible to transplant eyes. We transplant a lot of other stuff, so why not eyes? Well, you can transplant pieces of the eye, like the cornea, the clear part at the front of your eye (which is avascular). You can also replace the lens with an artificial one (the lens is also avascular). This is how you can fix cataracts, just taking out the old shitty lens and putting in a clear new one. That procedure can be done in a clinic in like thirty minutes (which is fuckin crazy if you ask me).

But what we're talking about here is taking out the entire eyeball and replacing it with a donor eye. It sounds cool as hell, so why is it so hard? First off, the eye is a part of the central nervous system (the first two cranial nerves, are in fact part of the CNS, not the PNS). So the optic nerve (CN II) is what carries special sensory information to the dorsal brain (occipital lobe). To control eye movement, you have CN III, IV, and VI (oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves). The oculomotor nerve controls eye movement, pupil constriction, and the upper eyelid. The trochlear nerve controls movement of the eye downwards, outwards, or to the nose. The abducens nerve moves the eye outwards. Several other nerves are involved in keeping the gaze level with movement, visual tracking, and parasympathetic/sympathetic functions (rest and digest vs. fight or flight). The point is, eye nerves are complicated as hell.

The blood flow to parts of the eye is also very complicated, and is very difficult to properly reattach for full perfusion (esp the retina).

Now, onto the good parts. So the eye is what is called "immune privileged." This means it has protections against the immune function of the body (to avoid autoimmune attacks). The eye has no lymphatics, few immune cells, and immune suppressing chemicals. This makes it a great place for implants, as it is unlikely that the body will attack the foreign tissue (stem cell implants are becoming more common).

The first whole eye transplant was done about a year ago (November 2023), and so far the eye is still there with adequate blood flow. However, the guy can't actually see out of it. The surgery took 21 hours and involved a huge team of some of the best surgeons in the world. It was not an easy thing to do. They also implanted some stem cells with the optic tract in hopes to regenerate it, but that still hasn't restored vision in the eye. So, while this case is a major win in the area of eye transplants, there is still a ways to go.

So why do we even need to do so many eye transplants? Well, all kinds of things can lead to the loss of the eye, whether it be disease or trauma. Surgeons try very hard to keep the eyes in a patient, but that isn't always possible. Sometimes the tissue is too destroyed for repair or the damage causes permanent pain. Enucleation is the removal of the eye. Usually, as much of the optic nerve is left as possible, as well as the musculature. Possible options after healing include fake eyes (like glass ones), which can be crazy realistic and can be moved with the eye muscles.

I hope this was an interesting read, and thanks for reading my ramblings. I didn't feel like the typical post format would work for this one, and I like to imagine it like a bonus since it didn't win the poll, lol.

[sassypotatoe1]

Every day I curse the knowledge of the existence of a particular skin disorder because my ocd is mostly manageable, unless it comes to pests, skin irregularities and illnesses, and this particular disorder (that I will not name because I don't want others to deal with the same intrusive thoughts I have about it and I ask nicely that no one try to guess what it is please) has all 3.

Imagine picking the fuck out of bumps because it's one, a bump and we can't have that oh no, two, possibly caused by a parasite and three, infestation can cause serious health complications, and the compulsive behaviors that can come with that when your compulsions are triggered by all three of those categories. The thing is, right, good hygiene, topical steroids and a halfway decent immune system can completely eradicate an infestation. People affected are people who are immunocompromised with poor hygiene and diet, and no access to the very basic medication used to treat this disorder.

I don't fall in that category I have topical steroids for my eczema, which I don't use because long term use can have a rebound effect, I have access to ivermectin and someone authorized to administer it available, I have good hygiene, excellent hygiene actually I wash my hands with the surgeon method, and my immune system is actually halfway decent. I have had no exposure to the parasite, no one in my life has or have symptoms, and so it's incredibly unlikely that the rash I currently have is that disorder.

The most likely culprit is the medication I started recently for my chronic pain which I could be allergic to, or less likely but somehow more fitting lichen planus, which is maybe an autoimmune disease, definitely can be triggered by nsaids which my new meds fall under, and is described and pictured exactly like the rash I have, which does not look like the rash for the disorder my ocd is trying desperately to convince me that I actually have.

By all accounts, knowing this should stop the intrusive thoughts and compulsions. Both are incredibly easy to treat, for one I get a small dose of ivermectin and use the topical steroid for the rash, for the other I switch the pain meds to something else, neither are life threatening situations. Still, my ocd is fighting tooth and nail to convince me that it is the first and that it will kill me with sepsis, and the related compulsions are actually harmful to my health.

This is the reality of ocd, especially mild ocd that can fly under the radar. It's not liking things to be clean, it's washing your hands with undiluted bleach and a pumice stone because you've become convinced that a minor rash is a parasitic infestation, and the only reason you even know about it is that a guy once talked about having an infestation in the past and what it was like.

Can it look like washing your hands obsessively is just being a germaphobe? Yeah, and a lot of the time people with ocd can't articulate why they do it, or don't want to because "I'm a bit of a germaphobe" is easier to communicate and better received than "I'm scared there's tiny parasites poisoning me through my skin and I have to wash off all of them right the fuck now or I will die".

It's not easy to live with, especially considering that life is full of pests and disease and rashes and skin irregularities can occur for any reason, and being highly logical and reasonable about them doesn't translate to being able to avoid the compulsions, because the part of my brain going "you do not have a parasite it's just a benign idiopathic skin rash" is not the part of it that's going "scour your hands actually burn the skin off we have to kill the little fuckers before they kill us" and the second part is louder and more instinctive.

I can stop compulsions, I can stop intrusive thoughts to some degree, but it's like trying to drive a car on a busy highway with the passenger screaming at you that you're going to crash at every action you take. You can ignore it, stop yourself from jumping and causing an accident, but sometimes the passenger yanks on the wheel trying to avoid an imaginary oncoming vehicle and you end up in a ditch. This rash is making my passenger yank on the wheel, and if I'm not careful I'll turn a minor swerve into a major pileup.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

A news report and explainer about Australia's latest covid booster. Anyone who's interested in learning about covid should give it a glance too: It's got some really good breakdowns of why covid is still a threat and unique among common respriratory illnesses.

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has recently approved a new COVID booster. The shot was developed by Pfizer and targets the JN.1 sub-variant of Omicron.

This is now the fifth iteration of the COVID vaccines, which have been updated regularly to keep up with the rapidly evolving virus, SARS-CoV-2.

But nearly five years into the pandemic, you may be wondering, why do we need yet another type of COVID booster? And do we still need to be getting boosters at all? Here’s what to consider.

Targeting the spike protein Pfizer’s JN.1 booster (and Moderna’s, though the TGA has not approved this one at this stage) is based on mRNA technology. This technology instructs our cells to produce a specific protein – in this case SARS-CoV-2’s spike, a protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to attach to our cells.

This helps the immune system produce antibodies that recognise the spike protein and interfere with the virus getting into our cells.

In response to our strengthened immune responses from vaccinations and previous infections (called immune pressure), SARS-CoV-2 has continued to evolve over the course of the pandemic, modifying the shape of its spike protein so our antibodies become less effective.

Most recently we’ve faced a soup of Omicron sub-variants, including JN.1. Since JN.1 was first detected in August 2023, this Omicron sub-variant has spawned a variety of further sub-variants, such as KP.2 (known as FLiRT), KP.3 (known as FLuQE) and XEC.

The spike protein is made up of 1,273 amino acids, a bit like molecular building blocks. Mutations to the spike protein change individual amino acids. Certain amino acids are important for allowing neutralising antibodies to bind to the spike protein. This means changes can give the virus an edge over earlier variants, helping it evade our immune response. Scientists keep updating the COVID vaccines in an effort to keep up with these changes. The better matched the vaccine “spike” is to the spike protein on the surface of the virus trying to infect you, the better protection you’re likely to get.

So who should get vaccinated, and when? Updating vaccines to deal with mutating viruses is not a new concept. It has been happening for the flu vaccine since around 1950.

We’ve become accustomed to getting the annual flu vaccine in the lead-up to the winter cold and flu season. But, unlike influenza, COVID has not settled into this annual seasonal cycle. The frequency of COVID waves of infection has been fluctuating, with new waves emerging periodically.

COVID is also more transmissible than the flu, which presents another challenge. While numbers vary, a conservative estimate of the reproduction number (R0 – how many people will one person will go on to infect) for JN.1 is 5. Compare this to seasonal flu with an R0 of about 1.3. In other words, COVID could be four times more transmissible than flu.

Add to this immunity from a COVID vaccination (or a previous infection) begins to wane in the months afterwards.

So an annual COVID booster is not considered enough for some more vulnerable people.

For adults aged 65 to 74, a booster is recommended every 12 months, but they’re eligible every six months. For adults over 75, a shot is recommended every six months.

Adults aged 18 to 64 are eligible every 12 months, unless they have a severe immune deficiency. Many conditions can cause immunodeficiency, including genetic disorders, infections, cancer, autoimmune diseases, diabetes and lung disease, as well as having received an organ transplant. For this group, it’s recommended they receive a shot every 12 months, but they’re eligible every six.

Making sense of the advice A vaccine that targets JN.1 should provide good protection against the Omicron sub-variants likely to be circulating in the coming months.

A few things need to happen before the JN.1 shots become available, such as the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation providing guidance to the government. But we can reasonably expect they might be rolled out within the next month or so.

If they hit doctors’ offices and pharmacies before Christmas and you’re due for a booster, the holiday period might be added impetus to go and get one, especially if you’re planning to attend lots of family and social gatherings over summer.

In the meantime, the XBB.1.5 vaccines remain available. Although they’re targeted at an earlier Omicron sub-variant, they should still offer some protection.

While young, healthy people might like to wait for the updated boosters, for those who are vulnerable and due for a vaccination, whether or not to hold out may be something to weigh up with your doctor.

The advice on COVID boosters in Australia, with stronger wording (“recommended” versus “eligible”) used for more vulnerable groups, reflects what we know about COVID. People who are older and medically vulnerable are more likely to become very unwell with the virus.

For young, healthy people who may be wondering, “do I need a COVID booster at all?”, having one annually is sensible. Although you’re less likely to get very sick from COVID, it’s possible. And, importantly, vaccines also reduce the risk of developing long COVID.

While COVID vaccines do a very good job of protecting against severe disease, they don’t necessarily stop you becoming infected. Evidence on whether they reduce transmission has been mixed, and changed over time.

We’ve come to appreciate that vaccination is not going to free us of COVID. But it’s still our best defence against severe illness.

[atul99]

How to Achieve a Lush Hairline with the Best Hair Transplant Experts in Bareilly

Hair loss is a common concern that affects both men and women, but the good news is that there are solutions available to restore your confidence and youthful appearance. One such solution is a hair transplant, a surgical procedure that can help you achieve a fuller, more natural hairline. If you are considering a hair transplant in Bareilly, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about the procedure, including how to choose the best hair transplant experts in Bareilly, the latest techniques, and the benefits of restoring your hairline.

1. Understanding Hair Loss: The Root Causes

Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors, and understanding the root cause is essential for determining the best treatment options. The primary causes of hair loss include:

Genetics: Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss, often due to genetic predisposition.

Hormonal Imbalances: Hormones play a crucial role in hair growth, and imbalances can lead to thinning hair or bald spots.

Age: As you age, hair growth naturally slows down, which can lead to thinning or receding hairlines.

Medical Conditions: Conditions like thyroid imbalances, autoimmune diseases, and scalp infections can cause hair loss.

Stress: Emotional or physical stress can lead to hair shedding, often referred to as telogen effluvium.

Understanding the cause of your hair loss is crucial in choosing the right treatment. If you've tried over-the-counter solutions or lifestyle changes and haven't seen results, a hair transplant might be the best solution for you.

2. What is a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure in which hair follicles are removed from one part of your body (usually the back or sides of the scalp, known as the donor area) and transplanted to areas where hair is thinning or missing (referred to as the recipient area). The goal is to restore a natural hairline and promote the growth of healthy, permanent hair.

Hair transplants are primarily used for treating pattern baldness, but they can also be used for eyebrow restoration, beard restoration, and scalp scarring.

3. Why Choose Bareilly for Your Hair Transplant?

Bareilly is quickly becoming one of the top destinations for hair restoration treatments in India. The city offers a unique combination of highly qualified surgeons, state-of-the-art clinics, and affordable prices. Choosing Bareilly for your hair transplant procedure means you have access to:

Experienced Surgeons: Bareilly is home to some of the most experienced hair transplant specialists, many of whom are internationally trained.

Affordable Prices: Compared to metropolitan cities, the cost of hair transplants in Bareilly is significantly lower, without compromising on quality.

Advanced Technology: Clinics in Bareilly use the latest technologies and techniques in hair restoration to deliver natural-looking results.

4. Benefits of a Hair Transplant for a Lush Hairline

There are several benefits to undergoing a hair transplant to achieve a lush hairline:

Permanent Results: Unlike temporary solutions, hair transplants offer permanent results, as the transplanted hair follicles continue to grow throughout your life.

Natural Appearance: With the latest techniques, a hair transplant provides a natural, seamless hairline.

Boosted Confidence: Restoring your hairline can significantly boost your self-esteem and give you the confidence to take on the world.

Low Maintenance: Once your hair has fully grown, it requires minimal maintenance, unlike wigs or hairpieces.

5. Choosing the Best Hair Transplant Clinic in Bareilly

Selecting the right clinic is the most important step in your hair restoration journey. Here are some tips to help you choose the best hair transplant clinic in Bareilly:

Experience and Qualifications: Ensure that the surgeon is highly experienced in performing hair transplant procedures and holds the necessary certifications.

Clinic Reviews and Testimonials: Look for positive reviews and patient testimonials that highlight the clinic’s success rate and customer satisfaction.

Technology and Equipment: A good clinic should be equipped with the latest technology to ensure the best results.

Personalized Consultation: The clinic should offer a detailed consultation to assess your needs and provide a customized treatment plan.

6. What to Expect During a Hair Transplant Procedure

The hair transplant procedure typically involves several key steps:

Consultation: You’ll discuss your hair goals, medical history, and desired outcomes.

Preparation: On the day of surgery, your scalp will be cleansed, and local anesthesia will be administered to minimize discomfort.

Harvesting: Hair follicles are removed from the donor area using specialized techniques.

Transplantation: The hair follicles are carefully implanted in the recipient area, ensuring a natural look.

Recovery: After the procedure, you'll need to follow specific aftercare instructions to ensure the best results.

7. Different Types of Hair Transplants Available

There are two primary types of hair transplant techniques:

FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction): This technique involves extracting individual hair follicles and transplanting them to the desired area. FUE is minimally invasive and leaves no visible scars.

FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation): In this technique, a strip of skin with hair follicles is removed and divided into grafts. FUT can cover larger areas but may leave a linear scar.

8. The FUE Technique: A Revolutionary Hair Transplant Method

The FUE technique has become one of the most popular methods due to its precision and minimal downtime. In this technique:

No linear scars are left, making it ideal for people who prefer short haircuts.

Faster recovery time compared to FUT, with most patients able to return to normal activities within a few days.

9. The FUT Technique: Is It Right for You?

The FUT technique is often recommended for people who require a large number of grafts in a single session. Although it leaves a linear scar, it can provide more grafts per session, making it a suitable option for individuals with extensive hair loss.

10. Post-Surgery Care: How to Maintain Your New Hairline

After your hair transplant procedure, following the right aftercare instructions is essential to ensure the best results. Some important steps include:

Avoiding direct sunlight for a few weeks.

Washing your hair gently to avoid disturbing the transplanted follicles.

Taking prescribed medications to reduce inflammation and prevent infection.

11. How to Prepare for Your Hair Transplant Consultation

Before your consultation, make sure to:

Document your medical history and any medications you’re currently taking.

Have realistic expectations about the results and understand the process.

Ask questions about the surgeon’s experience, the technique used, and the post-surgery care required.

12. Common Myths About Hair Transplants Debunked

There are several misconceptions about hair transplants that can prevent people from considering the procedure:

Myth 1: Hair Transplants are Painful – The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, making it virtually painless.

Myth 2: Hair Transplants are Only for Men – Women also experience hair loss and can benefit from hair transplants.

13. Results of Hair Transplants: What to Expect in the Long Term

Hair transplant results are permanent, but it takes time for the transplanted follicles to grow. On average:

Initial shedding may occur within the first few weeks.

Visible results typically appear 6-9 months after the procedure.

Full results can be seen within 12-18 months.

14. Cost of Hair Transplants in Bareilly: Is It Worth It?

The cost of a hair transplant in Bareilly varies depending on the technique used, the clinic’s reputation, and the extent of hair loss. On average, it can be much more affordable compared to major cities like Delhi or Mumbai. Considering the permanent and natural results, a hair transplant is often a worthwhile investment.

15. Final Thoughts: Achieving a Lush, Natural Hairline in Bareilly

If you’re considering a hair transplant, Bareilly offers top-tier clinics with skilled surgeons, advanced techniques, and affordable prices. A hair transplant can help you regain a fuller, natural-looking hairline, boosting your confidence and improving your overall appearance. Make sure to choose a qualified expert, follow proper aftercare, and enjoy the long-lasting results of your new, lush hairline.

[catboymingi]

memories - in this life and the next chap. 1

navi/masterlist

story masterlist

pairing: mingi x reader

genre: angst; soulmates & reincarnation au

word count: 3.1k

warnings: amnesia, hospital environments, dealing with grief, emotional neglect, a teeny bit of language

a/n: this is so short i’m sorry i promise the next ones will be longer, this one was just mainly to like... build the context. also the change in you/her from the previous chapter is intentional, it’s ~foreshadowing~

while some people want nothing more than to remember, others would give everything just so they could forget

the four minutes of silence had been the worst four minutes your family had ever lived through. the doctors had done whatever doctors did when someone died in their hospital bed, but were at least as surprised as your family when you shook slightly, immediately resuming their efforts at reanimating you, and this time it worked. they attached you to an incredible amount of machines and put you into an artificial coma to spare your body from having to do more work than absolutely necessary until they could somewhat safely say that being awake would not risk anything for you anymore.

when you woke up for the first time weeks after you had died for four minutes you didn’t recognise any of the faces around you. you didn’t understand what they were saying, and you couldn’t recognise the name they called you by.

“i don’t understand”, you said weakly, and surprised everyone when you spoke korean. of course your entire family spoke korean - your parents had immigrated in their twenties, before you were born, so you’d grown up bilingual. what was surprising wasn’t that you knew korean, it was that you didn’t understand the language that was supposed to be as natural to you as korean was. it was then that they realised they hadn’t gotten their daughter back. that their daughter didn’t even remember that she was their daughter. but you were alive, and that was already more than they’d hoped for when the machines first turned silent.

the doctors told you that this amnesia might slowly disappear, that you might slowly remember your life again, but also warned you that it might not ever leave and you had to be prepared for that. it stung, but they tried their best to give you your memories back, tell you about your life, your friends, everything you’d ever done that they could tell you about. you couldn’t remember any of it, but it seemed like your life had been fairly happy, if you ignored the autoimmune disease you had to deal with. they’d always tried their best to allow you as much of a normal life as they could, and even though you couldn’t remember any of it you still felt a deep gratitude towards these people that obviously cared about you incredibly much. so you tried to like them, to feel the feelings towards them that a daughter should have towards her parents, and while you didn’t feel close to them yet, couldn’t feel close to them yet, your discomfort at their touches, their physical affection, had slowly started to decrease. you knew it probably hurt them, but it wasn’t something you could change, no matter how hard you tried.

//

unlike this family, mingi hadn’t been lucky enough for the love of his life to wake up again. he’d refused to leave her side until they had told him there was nothing they could do, that there was nothing he could do either, at which point he’d broken down crying, unable to be strong anymore. he’d lost her. he’d lost her forever and he was stuck waiting until he could find her again, in the next life and the one after that, wanting nothing more than to speed up the process. but he knew that she wouldn’t have wanted that, so he forced himself to go on, even though he was but a shadow of himself, burying himself in his work and moving in with a friend because he couldn’t stand returning to the apartment he’d shared with her every single day, all the memories and all the little pieces of her that he refused to get rid of even though he was unable to even look at any of it. he felt like if he got rid of even the smallest piece of trash that she’d forgotten to throw away before she left for work that day he got rid of her, of the memories and of the relationship and of all the moments and feelings he’d shared with her. and while his friends were worried for him they knew he needed to grieve, they knew he needed his time, and they were more than willing to wait for him to be even a little more okay than he was now. they knew she’d been his everything.

//

day after day you tried to become yourself again, trying to remember who you even were in the first place. but your memories seemed to be irrevocably gone, even your name not yet something you reacted to each time someone called out for you. it didn’t feel like you. it didn’t feel like the person you were now, and you felt like you’d failed everyone for not wanting to be a person you couldn’t even remember. you wanted to create a new you, because unlike the people surrounding you, the people that remembered who you used to be and that had an attachment to those memories, the person that you were before you died held no significance to you, the only thing you had in common with her being her body, her genetic set up. you didn’t want to have to keep trying to be someone you weren’t even sure you wanted to be.

at least your overall physical condition seemed to have improved drastically, miraculously. it was as if your autoimmune disorder had died along with you, something the doctors tried very hard to figure out because that wasn’t how genetic disorders worked, but it seemed like that was the trade-off for your complete lack of memory. everyone was still somewhat wary at your sudden and technically impossible recovery, so that you were kept in the hospital for another couple weeks even after you were fine, just to be sure, but when your condition seemed to not worsen at all even after one and a half months you were deemed stable enough to return home. you would have to come in weekly for a check-up, and you would have to be careful to not over-exert yourself, but since you would be on constant watch by your parents the doctors decided that it might be helpful for you to return to your childhood home, maybe having some memories resurface in the familiar environment.

that hope was quickly destroyed by the harsh reality of your brain refusing to remember anything at all. it was as if you’d never even been in this house, and all the pictures on the walls didn’t feel like you, either. the house felt heavy, suffocating, enveloped in feelings and memories that everyone but you remembered. you felt like a stranger, you felt out of place, and as soon as your parents allowed you to you spent as much time in public spaces as you could. you wanted to escape the pressure of having to remember, and you wanted to escape their looks of disappointment and resentment towards you, the person that looked so much that the daughter they’d loved but didn’t behave like her at all. because even though you had no memory of them you didn’t want to be looked at like that, like you’d stolen their daughter from them, like you were an intruder. like it was your fault. not remembering them was okay for you, but knowing that they remembered you, remembered the you from before and the you now, and that it was very obvious which one they preferred? that hurt. knowing that you weren’t good enough for them hurt. knowing that, even if they’d never admit it, a part of them wished you’d stayed dead because this was like you being dead except they had to look at you all the time hurt. and knowing that you had no one to go to about this, to talk to about how you felt, hurt as well.

so, hours outside turned into more and more time, until at some point you decided you were tired of it. your parents had money, savings, and even though you felt a ping as guilt as you took them that quickly subsided, because you knew that the money they kept in the house wasn’t even close to all their money. they’d maybe not even notice it. but for you, it would make life much easier. you gathered the essentials - a sleeping bag they’d told you about in one of their desperate attempts to get you to remember things, food that wouldn’t be expiring anytime soon, and whatever else google told you was useful for living on the streets. it wasn’t like you were planning to do that - you weren’t stupid, nor were you suicidal, and the money you had might last you for a very cheap airbnb for the entire month and maybe more; by that time you planned to have found a job and your own place to stay. you didn’t rush this, either - transferred the money to a new bank account, got yourself a new wardrobe, a few pieces at a time, tried to prepare yourself for what you were about to do as well as you could. you might’ve hated your current life, but running away without any kind of planning wasn’t going to improve your situation. so you took your time.

when you finally did it, though, you felt relieved. you didn’t realise how caged you’d felt until you were out. it felt like you were able to breathe again, for the first time since you woke up after dying.

//

mingi still was very far from over her, but his friend yunho had convinced him that he should rent out the living room in the apartment he still refused to enter, he still refused to give up. he paid rent there, by himself now that she was gone, and the only reason why he managed to keep it was all the extra shifts he’d picked up and the fact that yunho had mercy on him and didn’t ask for a lot of rent. but he couldn’t keep it up forever either, and it was because of this that a few weeks after the initial idea, they’d found someone who had rented the living room for a few weeks right away. mingi still wasn’t ready to go in, so he asked his friend to go and lock your bedroom and take away everything that he knew was so personal to the heartbroken man. he hated the idea of changing anything, but he hated the idea of a stranger rummaging through his life with the love of his life even more. so all the important things, the anniversary gifts, the pictures, were locked in the bedroom.

it hurt yunho to be there, as well - mingi hadn’t been the only one that she’d meant a lot to. being as close as he was with the tall male it had been impossible to not befriend her too, her bright and lively aura pulling in everyone that got to meet her. but he prepared everything, for his friend, because he knew that if he had to go back he’d break down and no one might be able to piece him back together.

and it was yunho who welcomed the very first person - besides him - to enter the apartment where mingi’s entire heart was still kept.

//

you’d found a place to rent for cheap very soon - it was almost an entire apartment, for half the price you’d pay if you were to rent it first-hand. the person you’d been messaging sounded incredibly nice, and while you were doubtful because it was a man who sorted things with you and a man that was the main tenant you had a fairly good feeling about just these men. you’d been given some clear rules via call already - don’t move anything, don’t throw anything away that you didn’t bring, preferably just don’t touch anything unless absolutely necessary. you thought it was odd, but you accepted it. it was a place to stay, more luxurious than you could have hoped for, and you were guaranteed that you’d be able to stay for as long as you wanted to if you followed the rules.

a tall blond greeted you in front of the building, showing you the way to your new home for the next few weeks and handing you the keys. he entered with you, making sure there were no questions about the apartment and once more stressing that you were not allowed to throw anything away, change anything, and that the bedroom was a hard no. it was locked, anyway, but he wanted to be sure. and while you accepted these rules, you were curious about them because it did sound a little like the owner either had ocd or was an axe murderer who kept the evidence hidden away in his apartment.

“i’ll do that, no problem, but why all these rules?” but you knew the question was a sensitive one when you saw the pain that immediately distorted the man’s expression.

“this is my friend’s apartment. he shared it with his girlfriend, but she… she died. no pretty way to say it. it’s still fresh, and he just doesn’t want to lose any memories, you know? he hasn't even been here since. he wants to have her to come back to when he does, even if just in the trash she left on the floor.”

you nodded in understanding - you remembered how the first time you’d changed anything up in your room your parents damn near had a breakdown, and you weren’t even really dead.

“i’m sorry for his loss. i’ll do my best not to change anything up unless absolutely necessary. thank you for letting me stay here even though it’s hard. i know it is.” and because your voice sounded like you genuinely understood yunho got curious about you, this stranger that had rented the apartment from two strange men by herself, for several weeks in a row, seemingly willing to accept whatever rules and regulations he’d put up. he knew it’d be inappropriate to ask about you when he’d barely just met you, though, so he stayed silent, nodding at you.

“just in case something’s wrong you can always text me, or call me if it’s urgent, same number as when we last called. i hope this’ll be okay for you.”

it felt like the two of you were nodding at least as much as you were talking, you moving your head in acknowledgment again.

“anyway, i’ll go now. check up on my friend.”

“tell him thank you for letting me stay here.”

“yeah.” and with that, he left.

when you settled on the couch you felt a weird kind of familiarity, a familiarity you hadn’t felt a single time ever since you woke up again. you didn’t understand why, had no conscious recollection of this place, knew you’d never been here before. still, it felt like you knew it, knew these surroundings. the feeling was weird, kind of uncomfortable and scary, but you decided to ignore it in favour of going to sleep.

//

mingi had sent yunho to check up on the apartment every single day, to make sure that the stranger he still hadn’t met wasn’t wreaking havoc and destroying the only remembrance of her physical presence he still had. but day after day his friend told him that it seemed like you kept your promise to not change anything up, like you’d barely even touched anything at all. the couch was changed, of course, and you’d also used the bathroom and the kitchen, but both yunho and mingi were surprised at the fact that you always used the same set of cutlery, the same plate, the same towel. you’d gotten your own dish soap, your own laundry detergent, because you didn’t even want to risk emptying the ones she’d bought back then. you were careful, attentive and compassionate, and it made mingi curious to get to know you. he knew he’d not be able to see you in the apartment, so he asked yunho to ask you to meet up with the two of them in some café, just because he was curious and he wanted to ask if you were still comfortable at his place that didn’t feel like his anymore now that she was gone.

he was a little nervous about it, just because you might ask questions and because you might dig in his past and because being face to face with the person that was living where she used to live might cause emotions he’d more or less successfully suppressed by now to resurface. but his friend had convinced him that at least from your part there was nothing to fear, that you’d been more considerate of the situation than even most of their friends had been.

//

you were nervous when yunho asked you to meet in some café, because you didn’t know the second man at all, hadn’t even been told his name yet because the blond always just referred to him as ‘his friend’. you wanted to leave a good impression, so you got a little dressed up, though not too much because that’d be inappropriate as hell considering the other man had just lost his girlfriend not too long ago. it was just subtle makeup and clothes that were a bit fancier than your usual ripped jeans and oversized t-shirt, opting for ripped jeans and a cropped top instead. it was all black, not even on purpose but because you felt most comfortable in dark clothes, and after you’d spent half an hour overthinking if your outfit was appropriate or if you should wear something else you finally left.

it wasn’t hard finding the café - it was close to where you lived now, and while it wasn’t too fancy it wasn’t too hidden away, either, so that you weren’t left looking around for some secret entrance for an hour as you’d feared you would be. you entered carefully, scanning the café for the blond man whose face you could easily recognise by now by how often he’d visited you to check up on both you and the apartment, and it only took about a minute to spot him. then, your eyes fell upon the tall male next to him, and you felt the same weird kind of familiarity that had become your constant companion in the apartment. you knew there was no way you knew him, and you knew that this was probably just the desire to finally know something again, remember something again. still, you surprised yourself when you opened your mouth and yelled for him.

“mingi!”

[ifdragonscouldtalk]

Life Updates

Hi y’all. I know a lot of you haven’t heard from me personally in awhile, and so I wanted to give some updates and explain some things.

So, life summary of the past year. I’m 20 years old, a junior at a prestigious university. Two years ago I began to be treated for hypothyroidism in addition to my treatments for clinical depression and anxiety disorder. My medications created a thyroid storm last September, putting me in the hospital for a week and setting back my recovery. Last November, my dad lost his job, and although he found a new job by January, we’re still suffering the effects of the income loss for those three months. This September, I caught a cold which fucked with my thyroid meds, leading me to become increasingly lethargic and lack focus. This drop in my adrenal function due to the thyroid misfunction led to me having to medically withdraw from this semester of school. I have two guinea pigs. I used to have one, Toby, and over the summer I wanted to get him a friend, so I got Trajan. Trajan had a genetic disease which I didn’t have the money to test and cure, so I decided to keep him on painkillers until I could hopefully get the money to run the testing. He died only a month after I got him. Then I got Tacitus, because Toby had gotten used to having Tray around. Tacitus was healthy, but in August Toby got a bad cold over the weekend, and I had to take him to the emergency vet. He’s okay now though.

Why does this all matter? It explains some of my medical and financial situation, and why I haven’t been online or writing as much. Part of it is I’ve pretty much moved on from Marvel. It doesn’t really motivate me anymore. But I’ve also been having a lot of health struggles that have made simply getting out of bed and being awake for more than an hour very difficult. And I was working two jobs trying to pay off the vet bills from Trajan and from Toby’s cold. I had to quit those jobs along with school when I got sicker, meaning I still have a huge amount on my credit card and owe my mom some money for covering vet things while I’ve been short on cash. I’m working on getting another job now, as you guys have helped me with (thank you!) but I’m waiting on responses.

Continuing. Yesterday, I had an appointment with a cardiac neurologist, and he told me he was almost positive I have a condition called neuropathic POTS. Neuropathic POTS is a condition where the small neurons in my limbs, the ones that directly connect all the muscles and veins and tissues to the main autonomic nervous system, have broken down in their saline barriers. This is small fiber neuropathy. The small fiber neuropathy means that when I stand from sitting or lying down, unlike in a healthy human my nerves don’t send signals well enough to make the veins in my legs respond to the pressure change as they should -- when you stand, your veins in your legs contract to create more blood volume in your chest and head instead of having it pool in your lower extremities. Without the proper nerve signaling, my veins don’t contract well enough. This is the POTS part -- it leads to dizziness, fainting, migraines, and a whole plethora of other health issues. It is an autoimmune disease, and it’s suspected to be linked to my hypothyroidism, as a certain type of hypothyroidism that my mother has called Hashimodo’s Disease is also caused by autoimmune problems, and I have eczema, another autoimmune problem. Neuropathic POTS cannot be confirmed without testing, but the tests are being done over the next six months, as my doctor is booked very far out (I booked this appointment with him for the initial screening over a year ago).

This diagnosis is good. It means that there’s something to be worked with, that it’s somewhat treatable and I can begin to make changes to feel more normal and become more active, instead of being trapped in a body that faints at the first sign of strenuous activity. One of those changes is to get compression stockings that will help prevent blood from pooling in my legs.

These compression stockings I’ve been prescribed are medical grade. You can’t get them over the counter. They’re 40-50mmHg, they’re not like something you’d get at a sporting goods store. We have to buy them from a store an hour away from my house. You have to be measured for them so they fit correctly and compress enough but not too much.

They’re $300 each.

My insurance deductible is $300 for medical grade equipment. We don’t have that kind of out of pocket money right now. We’re considering getting lower grade compression just so that I have something, because it’ll improve my quality of life, but even those can run $90-$150, and we don’t have a prescription for that so insurance won’t cover it. I’m not saying we’re suffering or that I can’t do without it. It seems I’ve lived with this condition for many years, and I’m going to live with it for many more. But it’d be nice to have these because my doctor told me 5 things that would improve my quality of life 85% and help me keep up with other people my age, and this is one of those things.

If you have POTS, I’d love to get to know you and learn more information about living with this. If you don’t have POTS but know about me, I would really appreciate it if you helped me out by supporting me on ko-fi or on patreon. I can’t give you anything in return. I don’t have the energy for that. But you’ll have my unending gratitude and probably some tears as well.

Anyway, that’s an update on my life and an explanation for why I’ve been so absent. If you have any questions about my medical conditions, please feel free to ask. I’m very open about my experiences with them. Thanks, I love you all.

Talon

[cannabisrefugee-esq]

#HighRiskCOVID19. You Don't Say. Shame v. Cause and Effect (Again))

Cannabis Refugee, Esq.

Advertising / Media / Cultural Conversation, Alternative Treatment, Antinatalism, Capitalistic Patriarchal Medicine, Crohn's Disease, Marijuana / Cannabis, Natural Law, Other Autoimmune Diseases, Radical Feminism

March 16, 2020

Apparently, social media is currently alight with a new hashtag, #HighRiskCOVID19 which is being used by people with “underlying medical conditions” who are at greatest risk, besides the elderly, of contracting and becoming dangerously ill with the disease.   Some of these people, but not all, are autoimmune patients and others voluntarily taking immunity-decimating Big Pharma medications to “treat” their underlying diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Crohn’s disease.  The message is intended to convince “well” people to stay home in order to not risk spreading the virus throughout communities and ultimately to those who are already seriously or chronically ill.

Putting aside the fact that these drugs often don’t even work, work well, or work for long to treat the pain and symptoms of autoimmune disease, despite the lies Big Pharma propaganda spews everywhere — lies that sick people’s friends and family often believe instead of believing the testimonies and lived experience of the people they supposedly love — these so-called “biologic” and chemotherapy drugs are prescribed to autoimmune patients because they destroy the sick person’s immune system, thereby (theoretically) preventing it from attacking the sick person’s own tissues.  Of course, destroying anyone’s natural immunity also makes them more susceptible to opportunistic infections and environmental pathogens like the common cold, flu and the novel Coronavirus or COVID19.  Essentially, autoimmune patients taking immunity-decimating drugs have allowed doctors to give them AIDS and all the complications of full-blown untreated AIDS.

In contrast, actual HIV-positive people with full-blown AIDS (assuming they have access to health care) are aggressively treated with an immunity-bolstering protocol and many are able to avoid the hideous outcomes that were a death sentence for AIDS patients in the 80s including lethal fungal infections/thrush, pneumonia and cancer.  But no one is bolstering autoimmune patients’ purposely fucked-up immune systems because that would defeat the point of letting doctors give them therapeutic AIDS to treat their AI.  In fact, immunocompromised AI patients, unlike those with full-blown untreated AIDS due to HIV, are fully expected by everyone to just go back to their previous lives, including returning to full-time work, like they aren’t sick at all.   Somehow having both AI and AIDS = healthy.  Some of them may — or may not — be told to wash their hands and avoid sick people, which is impossible innit.

Many AI patients are not even given the benefit of informed consent and are not fully informed of the very real and expected consequences of destroying their natural immunity to environmental pathogens.  Patients often aren’t even told how the medications they are taking are expected to work, or if they are “informed” they are too sick and cognitively impaired to even understand what they are hearing.  In other words, they don’t know they are consenting to essentially contracting AIDS.  If they do understand it, they may be too sick to even care.*

There is also the issue, isn’t there, of congenitally nonviable infants being handed over to Big Medicine to essentially animate them well enough to be lifelong victims and consumers of patriarchal Western medicine, where many if not all of these infants are immunocompromised and/or have reduced lung capacity and lifelong serious “preexisting medical problems” due to their congenital malformations or premature births.   Before that, many Western women take prescription medications meant to prevent miscarriage, when miscarriage has historically (and prehistorically surely) prevented nonviable and congenitally malformed fetuses from being born at all.  Get it?  Good.  Enter the novel Coronavirus.

Now, I am not going to repeat everything I have already said about immunity-decimating drugs and what they do to people who take them, and I’m not going to retread the ground I have already covered on nonviable infants.  But I will repeat, because I think it bears repeating, that natural law applies on this planet in every situation and circumstance, and what I mean by natural law is cause and effect.  There are natural, foreseeable consequences to anyone’s action and inaction that cannot be avoided, and these are in addition to any possible or probable consequences that are culturally-constructed.

And so-called “shame” is a male invention that is meant to obscure the reality, inevitability and primacy of natural law over male-made law and has nothing to do with anything in any real sense of altering material reality including affecting foreseeable outcomes.  This is important.

I will not and need not “shame” anyone for taking dangerous medications to treat hideous diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, which have notoriously poor prognoses and outcomes with or without treatment, but I will call attention to the foreseeable natural outcomes that follow.  I will not “shame” mothers who hand over their nonviable infants for reanimation and a lifetime of complications and medical torture, but I will look at them askance when they blame everyone except themselves and Big Medicine for the situation in which they now find themselves — as mothers of exceptionally vulnerable children in the context of a capitalist patriarchy that is literally built on the backs of the vulnerable, you guys.  That’s what it does.   If anyone thought it was a good idea to agree to accept 100% responsibility and little to no control over the life of a nonviable infant, I don’t know what to tell them.**

In fact, no one need tell deliberately immunocompromised sick people or mothers of nonviable infants what they are finding out for themselves right now: that infants, children and adults that have been compromised by Big Medicine are exceptionally vulnerable, they are in serious danger of increasing pain, disease and suffering as a result of patriarchal fiddling, and now that the damage has been done there’s not a fucking thing they can do about it.  If you are immunocompromised for any reason, even if everyone stays home for the rest of their lives, and even if #HighRiskCOVID19 is what prompts them to do so, you still live on a planet swimming in natural and man-made pathogens to which you have high susceptibility and little or no immunity.  And in the end, no one will bear the consequences of that except you, if you are the sick one, or the children whose mothers allowed this to happen, and that to happen, and the other damn thing after that.  Cause and effect you guys.  Cause and effect.

*Often autoimmune patients treating with biologics and chemo only begin to care later on, when the drugs prove ineffective to treat the pain and symptoms of their underlying disease and give them little or nothing but “side effects” like chronic nausea and GI symptoms, opportunistic infections, and drug-induced diabetes or lupus.

**High responsibility and low control are the objective markers of an unsatisfying career and are predictive of professional burnout.   Clearly these criteria apply in other areas as well, for example, existing while female in any context under a capitalist patriarchy.

Comments Open.

[firstclasscannabis-blog]

Buy Cannabis CBD Oil Online Canada: Essential Tips

June 16, 2020

Posted by Tyler SEO

16JUN

Do you want to buy cannabis CBD oil online Canada but don’t know where to start? In this article, you will learn how to buy CBD oil online and where to buy it.

Upon legalization of cannabis, it became more safe and convenient to buy cannabis CBD oil online Canada. Typically there are a couple of different places that you can purchase cannabis CBD oil.

Depending on the laws in your state or country, it could be available at your local medical marijuana dispensary. Again, depending on the law in your place, CBD oil can also be available at your local health food store, and finally, it is also available online.

But one must understand that CBD oil may be available in a wide variety of other places. But wherever you buy your cannabis CBD oil from, you absolutely must make sure that it is laboratory tested. Let us first take a closer look at what this fascinating oil is.

Buy Cannabis CBD Oil Online in Canada

Wherever you buy your CBD Oil from, you should make sure whether it’s laboratory tested. Looking at the laboratory test result is the only way to know how much CBD is in the bottle.

Several companies claim to be selling high-quality ones, but the content is vegetable oil. If you are looking for the best, the safest, and the most reliable CBD oil, you must head on over to the First Class Cannabis website https://firstclasscannabis.org/. They offer products tested down to the smallest content. This would let you know how much CBD the bottle has.

What is CBD oil?

CBD oil can be derived from the marijuana plant or the hemp plant. With CBD becoming more prevalent, we hear all kinds of ailments that CBD can treat. But no one is talking just about general health.

The issue of CBD can play a significant role in just living a healthier, longer life and just overall having that better well-being. It is useful not only to have a clear understanding of what is going on with CBD within our body but also what CBD is not. Also, while to buy Cannabis CBD Oil online in Canada has been very convenient. People need to choose the most reliable dispensary, like First Class Cannabis.

Uses of CBD oil

1. For anxiety and sleeplessness

Cannabis or CBD is a natural stimulator of the body’s natural endocannabinoid system. Unlike THC, CBD directly allows our body to produce more of the endocannabinoids that will enable us to feel good and treat some issues and help modulate anxiety and help us sleep. If you have too much caffeine, you feel anxious; CBD can have the opposite effect because it allows less glutamate to get into the brain and absorb more GABA to be an excellent activator of serotonin why it is also called A happy chemical.

2. Controls pain and inflammation

THC, however, is a whole different thing. Cannabis makes the endocannabinoid system directly stimulated. This means THAT you have an exogenous force coming in the exciting stuff. CBD, on the other hand, promotes the natural production of endocannabinoids. It, therefore, means you are not blocking anything. Instead, you are allowing the body to produce more of what it likes. CBD oil gives us bliss and relief. CBD comes into the body and suppresses fatty acid amide hydroxylase (FAAH), which is required to metabolize THC or cannabis down to something else. CBD, however, since it contains FAAH, it allows the body to necessarily produce more of a chemical in the body which gives a feeling of bliss.

Anandamide is a potent inflammatory marker. So if it is high, inflammation will also be high, which is associated with most of the chronic diseases. That makes CBD awesome as it plays a significant role in modulating inflammation. Since it is popular in modulating inflammation, it can also control acne breakouts.

3. Manage autoimmune conditions

When we have an overacting immune system, it can mean that it is already attacking itself for no reason like autoimmune conditions. CBD allows a cell to die when it is supposed to die. If you have an immune cell that is old and should not be there, and if it is already programmed to die (apoptosis) and is already fighting itself, CBD will kill it.

4. Cancer treatment

If you are concerned about cancer and cancer growth, GPR55 is something you need to block. This helps decrease cancer cell proliferation. This is not a claim that cures cancers or prevents cancer, but studies have shown that if this is blocked, cancer cells will not grow as fast. Amazingly, CBD has been shown to block GPR55. When it comes down to just living a long healthy life, you want to make sure you are choosing the right CBD oil and that you’re going down the right path because we all want to live healthy, happy, and longer. We have to stop trying to treat each symptom and treat life as a whole.

How to use CBD oil

1. Choose your dosage

At First Class Cannabis or FCC, we offer full-spectrum premium CBD oil in different concentrations. For those who will try hemp for the first time, you might want to start with the lowest level.

2. Fill the dropper

If you are new to hemp, we recommend starting with 8 milligrams per day.

3. Release the tincture below your tongue

We recommend holding the tincture under your tongue for about 30 seconds, taking the drops under your tongue allows for quick absorption. Take a few deep breaths and swallow.

4. Build a routine and evaluate

Cannabis CBD is a long-term commitment, not a one-time fix-all. So we recommend taking FCC CBD Oil every day for a full 30 days and evaluating how you feel. From there, you can adjust what time of the day you take your oil, how much you take, and how often.

5. Get back to being you.

Turn on some music. Read a book. Slow down. If you feel that there is a need to use CBD oil, choose the most convenient, safe, and reputable way. To buy cannabis CBD oil online in Canada, check out the wide variety of choices from First Class Cannabis online dispensary and experience the best quality CBD oil.

https://firstclasscannabis.org/buy-cannabis-cbd-oil-online-canada/

[paleorecipecookbook]

How to Prevent Parkinson’s Disease with Diet and Lifestyle

Unfortunately, the conventional treatments available for Parkinson’s disease are limited to surgical interventions and medications that come with numerous side effects. But a growing body of research indicates that there are many modifiable risk factors associated with the condition, providing us with clues as to what measures we can take to prevent the onset of the disease. Read on to learn how to prevent Parkinson’s disease by using evidence-based dietary and lifestyle interventions.  

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a gradual loss of neurons in the brain that produce the crucial neurotransmitter dopamine; mitochondrial dysfunction; neuroinflammation; oxidative stress; and an accumulation of “misfolded” (malformed, and therefore dysfunctional) proteins in neurons. (One particular protein, called alpha-synuclein, plays a significant role in how Parkinson’s is diagnosed.) Together, these factors damage the central nervous system and impair motor function, causing the hallmark symptoms of PD:

Stiff muscles

Difficulty with standing, walking, and other bodily movements

Involuntary movements

Rigidity

Slow shuffling gait

Difficulty speaking

Dementia

Reduced or lost sense of smell

Reduced facial expression

Constipation

Parkinson’s disease is increasingly common, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are the most common causes of the disease and 11 ways you can prevent it through diet, exercise, and lifestyle. #optimalhealth #healthylifestyle #chriskresser

Eight Causes of Parkinson’s Disease

Many scientists and doctors dream of developing a cure for Parkinson’s disease. However, the reality is that Parkinson’s disease is caused by multiple factors and therefore is unlikely to respond to a single therapy.

Rather than focusing our efforts on finding a “silver bullet” drug to cure PD, we can make more progress and improve quality of life by addressing the many underlying causes of Parkinson’s disease. This approach may not only prevent Parkinson’s disease; it could also potentially reverse some symptoms in already-afflicted individuals.

1. Gut Dysfunction

The gut–brain axis, a two-way communication system between the enteric nervous system of the gut and the central nervous system, is intimately involved in the PD disease process. Chronic constipation has long been recognized as an early sign of Parkinson’s disease, preceding the onset of motor symptoms by many years. Alpha-synuclein proteins are deposited in gastrointestinal nerves up to 20 years before the onset of Parkinson’s disease symptoms, suggesting that the gut may be “ground zero” in the development of PD. (2)

Alpha-synuclein spreads from the gut to the brain. Epidemiological research supports this theory, as severing the nerve that connects the brain and colon reduces the risk of PD. (3) But what causes accumulation of abnormal alpha-synuclein in the gut in the first place? It may be triggered by changes in the gut microbiota. (4)

Normally, proteins in our cells form through “folding” into specific functional shapes. But sometimes, “misfolding” occurs, and the result is a protein that doesn’t work as it should, or that clumps together and accumulates—which is what happens with alpha-synuclein as it relates to PD. Gut dysbiosis triggers inflammation-induced misfolding of alpha-synuclein in gastrointestinal nerves, which subsequently link up with other nerves along the gut–brain axis. Those abnormal alpha-synuclein proteins travel along the gut–brain axis and may eventually lead to Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease patients demonstrate distinct patterns of gut dysfunction that may eventually lead to Parkinson’s, including: (5, 6, 7)

Elevated levels of inflammatory bacteria

Lower levels of anti-inflammatory bacteria

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO

H. pylori infection

Increased intestinal permeability, or leaky gut

Dysbiosis results in an elevated production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an inflammatory bacterial byproduct. When leaky gut is also involved, LPS circulates throughout the body and brain, where it causes neuroinflammation and leads to a loss of dopamine-producing neurons. (8, 9, 10, 11)

Given the effects of dysbiosis and leaky gut on the brain, improving gut health should be first and foremost in every Parkinson’s disease prevention plan.

2. Gluten

Gluten ataxia, a loss of control of body movements, has long been recognized as a neurological symptom of gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity, as well as celiac disease, may also have other neurological manifestations, including the same motor symptoms seen in Parkinson’s disease. (12) Several case studies have found that a gluten-free diet can help alleviate these symptoms, and genetic research indicates that people with celiac disease often test positive for PARK7, a protein associated with PD. These findings suggest that there is an important relationship between gluten sensitivity and Parkinson’s disease. (13, 14, 15)

3. Autoimmunity

A recent study published in Nature provides direct evidence that autoimmunity contributes to Parkinson’s disease. (16) The researchers found that fragments of alpha-synuclein cause the body’s immune system to mistakenly recognize dopamine-producing neurons as foreign bodies and destroy them. Interestingly, PD and autoimmune diseases share a common genetic basis. (17) These findings suggest that correcting autoimmunity may be vital for preventing and treating PD.

4. Blood Sugar Problems

When the bloodstream contains a high concentration of sugar, as in hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, the proteins circulating in the body can become damaged. Alpha-synuclein is no exception and, once it’s damaged, it can cause even more harm to the neurons in the brain. Insulin resistance is significantly underdiagnosed in non-diabetics with Parkinson’s disease. (18) That’s cause for worry because insulin resistance may worsen PD by further damaging alpha-synuclein.

The good news is that balancing blood sugar levels protects the brain’s neurons. (19) Improving insulin sensitivity and normalizing blood sugar are important for reducing the risk of PD.

5. Iron Overload

When it comes to iron, more is not necessarily better. Iron overload is the term used to describe an overaccumulation of iron in the body. It can occur in people with certain genetic predispositions or in those who’ve been supplementing long term with iron or received numerous blood infusions. You can learn more about iron overload in my article “Does Iron Overload Cause Diabetes and Heart Disease?”

In high concentrations, iron causes oxidative damage in all body tissues, including the brain. People with PD have high brain iron levels, suggesting that iron-induced oxidative stress plays a role in the disease process. (20) Conversely, once people receive treatment to reduce their iron levels, they often see clinical improvements in their Parkinson’s disease. (21)

6. Circadian Disruption

The circadian rhythm is the roughly 24-hour biological cycle in humans that regulates a diverse array of physiological and behavioral functions. Circadian rhythm disruption, induced by factors such as blue light exposure at night and abnormal sleep–wake cycles, increases the risk of PD by altering the expression of genes and proteins that regulate dopamine in the brain. (22) Accordingly, chronic insomnia is associated with an increased risk of PD, and abnormal sleep–wake cycles can exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. (23)

7. Stress

Chronic psychological stress is a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. Chronic stress elevates the hormone cortisol, promoting a pro-inflammatory state that ultimately kills dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. (24) Cortisol can also interfere with neuronal plasticity—the brain’s ability to adapt and learn from new (and potentially stressful) circumstances. (25) In animal studies, a high frequency of stressful life events increases the risk of PD. In humans, stress exaggerates PD-related motor dysfunction and nonmotor symptoms. (26) This evidence suggests that stress management is crucial for inhibiting the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease.

8. Environmental Toxins

Oxidative stress is a well-known cause of alpha-synuclein accumulation in the brain. (27) Environmental toxins are potent inducers of oxidative stress, and a handful of specific toxins have been implicated in PD.

Pesticides and Herbicides

Rotenone is an insecticide commonly used in home gardens for pest control, for lice and tick prevention in pets, and for managing fish populations in bodies of water. Surprisingly, rotenone can be used in organic food farming because it is labeled as a natural product. It readily crosses into the brain from the bloodstream and, once it’s in a cell, it causes mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive production of free radicals.

Rotenone also inhibits the activity of proteasomes, protein complexes that get rid of unneeded or damaged proteins. That decreased proteasome activity may allow misfolded alpha-synuclein to accumulate, which causes Parkinson’s. (28) In animal models, rotenone exposure produces motor deficits reminiscent of PD, alpha-synuclein accumulation, and degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons.

Paraquat and maneb, an herbicide and a fungicide, respectively, also readily cross into the brain from the bloodstream, are toxic to mitochondria, and damage neurons. (29) Pesticide applicators, agricultural workers, and those who live in rural areas have a significantly elevated risk of Parkinson’s disease since they’re often exposed to these chemicals. (30)

Organochlorine pesticides, the most infamous of which is DDT, were used extensively from the 1940s to the 1970s in agriculture and mosquito control. While they have since been banned in the United States due to their neurotoxic effects, they degrade slowly, and they’re still lingering in the environment today. Organochlorine pesticide exposure has been linked to Parkinson’s disease in both animal and human studies. (31) Postmortem examinations of PD brains have found high levels of organochlorine compounds, especially in regions dense in dopamine-producing neurons, compared to non-PD brains. (32)

Toxic Mold

I previously wrote about the harmful effects of toxic mold in my articles “5 Things You Should Know about Toxic Mold Illness” and “How Mold Exposure Can Hurt Your Gut Health.” Mycotoxins, the metabolites produced by toxic molds, may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease by depleting dopamine and inducing inflammation and cell death in certain regions of the brain. (33)

Air Pollution

Long-term exposure to air pollution, including ambient particulate matter (tiny particles in the air), nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and ozone, significantly increases a person’s risk of Parkinson’s disease. (34, 35) Minerals processing, brick and cement works, refineries, vehicle exhaust, wildfires, and fossil fuel power plants are significant sources of harmful (but essentially invisible) particulate matter.

Chronic exposure to air pollution may contribute to PD by triggering oxidative stress and promoting the misfolding of alpha-synuclein. This misfolded alpha-synuclein spreads, neuron to neuron, similar to how it travels along the gut–brain axis. Inhalation of air pollutants also causes neuroinflammation and cell death of neurons, factors in the development and progression of PD.

Our environment is unfortunately full of toxic assaults that may contribute to the development of PD. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure.

Keep reading to discover these steps, as well as many other actions you can take to reduce your risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Here’s How to Prevent Parkinson’s Disease

The underlying causes of this condition can provide valuable clues for how to prevent Parkinson’s disease. Here are 11 ways to do it with diet and lifestyle changes.

1. Eat Wisely and Choose Whole Foods

A diet based on whole, nutrient-dense foods is an excellent first step for reducing your risk of Parkinson’s disease. A high intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, fish, olive oil, coconut oil, fresh herbs, and spices is associated with a reduced risk of PD development and slower disease progression. (36, 37) Eating plenty of vegetables and fiber boosts levels of an anti-inflammatory group of gut bacteria that are inversely associated with Parkinson’s disease and may play a protective role against neurodegenerative processes in the brain. (38)

Choose organic foods over conventionally grown foods as much as possible. Eating organic reduces your exposure to neurotoxic pesticides and herbicides. If you can’t buy all organic food, refer to the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists to determine which types of conventional produce are lowest in pesticide residues and are safe to buy non-organic.

2. Make Sure You Get Enough Vitamin D and Omega-3s

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, whereas vitamin D supplementation and sunlight exposure are associated with a reduced risk. (39, 40) How does vitamin D combat neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease? A high density of vitamin D receptors reside in the part of the brain most affected by Parkinson’s disease; this finding suggests that vitamin D regulates the function of neurons.

Vitamin D also lessens the severity of autoimmunity and regulates neurotrophins, proteins that induce the survival, development, and function of neurons. Vitamin D is one nutrient you won’t want to skimp on if your goal is to prevent Parkinson’s disease! Safe sun exposure is the best method for boosting vitamin D levels. However, full-body sun exposure is not possible for most people year-round; in this case, I recommend you take cod liver oil and eat fatty cold-water fish, beef liver, and egg yolks to obtain dietary vitamin D.

Omega-3 fatty acids, like EPA and DHA, are critical for normal brain development and function across the lifespan. Low levels of EPA and DHA increase the risk of neurodegeneration, whereas omega-3 supplementation can help reduce neuron death in the brain, alleviate neuroinflammation, boost antioxidant enzymes, and relieve motor symptoms in PD. (41, 42, 43, 44) EPA and DHA are abundant in seafood, so I recommend consuming two to three servings of seafood per week to achieve a healthy intake of these neuroprotective fatty acids.

3. Give Up Gluten

Given the probable relationship between gluten sensitivity, gastrointestinal inflammation, and PD, gluten sensitivity testing is a must for anyone seeking to reduce their risk of PD. If testing reveals gluten sensitivity, I strongly suggest you remove it entirely from your diet.

4. Try the Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic diet is characterized by a high fat intake—typically 80 to 90 percent of total calories—moderate protein intake, and a very low carbohydrate intake. Originally developed as a treatment for refractory epilepsy in children, the ketogenic diet has exploded in popularity in recent years.

A growing body of clinical research shows the health benefits of the ketogenic diet, including weight loss and improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, some of the most exciting findings related to the ketogenic diet deals with its impact on neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. In animal models of PD, the ketogenic diet reduces mitochondrial damage and improves motor function. (45) In humans, the diet improves both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. (46) There are two primary ways the ketogenic diet alleviates symptoms of PD:

Ketones are an alternative fuel source for the brain. The human brain typically relies on glucose for energy. In PD, part of the process required to produce energy from glucose is impaired, making glucose an inefficient fuel source. Ketones bypass that process and are readily taken up by the brain, so they serve as an efficient alternative energy source for neurons.

Ketone metabolism decreases oxidative stress in the brain and reduces neuroinflammation, thus alleviating two of the underlying causes of PD.

While I don’t recommend going on a permanent ketogenic diet, eating this way three to four times per year can protect against PD as well as a number of other chronic diseases. If you’re already showing signs of PD, the ketogenic diet may help.

5. Take Prebiotics and Probiotics

Gut dysbiosis plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Accordingly, probiotics have the potential to help with onset of the disease, as well as management of its symptoms. A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, L. reuteri, and L. fermentum has been found to relieve constipation, improve insulin sensitivity, and improve antioxidant status in people with PD, thus correcting several of the characteristic features of the disease. (47)

Prebiotics, fermentable fibers that feed beneficial gut bacteria, may be another useful intervention for preventing Parkinson’s disease. FOS and GOS, two types of prebiotic fibers, increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein important for neuronal protection, survival, and plasticity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is abnormally low in Parkinson’s disease patients; boosting its levels may have neuroprotective effects. (48, 49)

6. Get Rid of Toxins

Environmental toxins, toxic mold, and air pollution are significant contributing factors in the development of Parkinson’s disease. Creating a healthy living environment at work and at home is essential for reducing your risk of Parkinson’s disease. To limit your exposure to neurotoxic pesticides, herbicides, and organochlorines, invest in high-quality filters for your drinking and bathing water. Berkey water filters are an excellent option. If you live in an urban or agricultural area where vehicle exhaust and pesticides are common, you may also want to purchase an air purifier, such as an IQAir machine, to filter the air in your home. IQAir machines filter ultrafine pollution particles down to 0.003 microns in size. For reference, the particulate matter pollution linked to PD is 2.5 microns in size, and neurotoxic mold spores range from 3 to 100 microns in size.

Speaking of mold, if you suspect your home has a mold problem, test for it! Mold and mycotoxins are harmful to the brain, and a mold problem should not be ignored if your goal is to prevent Parkinson’s disease and optimize your brain health. If you find mold in your home, you can get rid of it. If a mold problem is severe enough, you may need to consider moving to a new, mold-free environment.

You also need to look out for bisphenol A (BPA). Aluminum food and beverage containers feature a protective inner lining that contains BPA. In addition to being a potent endocrine disruptor, BPA interferes with the neurons that produce dopamine and may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease. People with Parkinson’s also have a decreased ability to detoxify BPA, which makes this chemical even more harmful. (50)

While “BPA-free” canned foods are available, the safety of BPA alternatives is questionable; in fact, recent research indicates that BPA alternatives may be just as toxic, if not more toxic, than BPA itself! For more information on BPA, including tips on how to avoid it, see my article “Re-examining the Evidence on BPA and Plastics.” To protect your brain health, focus on consuming fresh foods and limit your consumption of canned foods as much as possible.

7. Adopt a Regular Sleep Rhythm

Optimizing your circadian rhythm and improving your sleep promotes brain health and may reduce your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. To optimize your rhythm, create a regular sleep–wake schedule and sleep in a room that is completely dark and free of light pollution from electronic devices. Avoid using blue light-emitting devices, such as computers and cell phones, several hours before bed. If you must use these devices, wear a pair of blue light-blocking glasses while doing so; the glasses prevent blue light from disrupting your sleep rhythm.

8. Turn to Botanicals

Several plant compounds have been studied for their neuroprotective effects. Curcumin, a bright yellow compound derived from turmeric root, is neuroprotective in Parkinson’s disease. (51) Sulforaphane, a phytochemical present in large quantities in broccoli sprouts, protects against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity; rotenone, as discussed above, is one of the key environmental toxins implicated in the development of Parkinson’s disease. (52) Frequent consumption of green tea, rich in polyphenols such as EGCG, is associated with a reduced risk of PD. Green tea’s anti-PD properties include its ability to remove excess iron from the body. (53)

9. Get More Exercise

Substantial evidence indicates that physical exercise inhibits the progression of Parkinson’s disease by enhancing neuroplasticity and promoting the growth and survival of neurons. (54) Aerobic exercise appears to have the most favorable effects on brain health and Parkinson’s disease progression.

10. Reduce Your Stress

Since stress is a risk factor for Parkinson’s disease, stress-reduction practices should be an integral part of a Parkinson’s disease prevention plan. Tai chi, yoga, and mindfulness training not only reduce stress but also improve mobility, balance, and quality of life for everyone, including those with Parkinson’s. (55, 56) Meditation, gratitude journaling, and spending time in nature are also excellent strategies for reducing stress and cultivating a resilient, healthy brain.

11. Try Light Therapy

Light therapy reduces the neurodegeneration typical in  Parkinson’s. In animal models of PD, near-infrared light protects dopamine-producing neurons from cell death and improves motor symptoms by restoring normal cellular energy production and decreasing oxidative stress. (57) Several small human trials have shown that near-infrared light helps speech, cognition, gait, and “freezing episodes,” or moments where a person is temporarily unable to move. (58) Near-infrared light is typically administered either as low-level laser or LED (light-emitting diode) therapy. If you are interested in trying light therapy, I recommend seeking out a practitioner who has sufficient experience with the process. If you experience benefits from the treatment, you may eventually want to invest in an at-home light therapy unit. Near-infrared sauna therapy may also prevent Parkinson’s. I use a SaunaSpace sauna at home, and their single light panel is a great option if you’re short on space.

Now I want to hear from you. Would you consider trying the Parkinson’s disease interventions I’ve outlined in this article? Let me know in the comments below!

The post How to Prevent Parkinson’s Disease with Diet and Lifestyle appeared first on Chris Kresser.

Source: http://chriskresser.com January 09, 2019 at 07:20PM

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New Post has been published on myweightlossfun.com

New Post has been published on https://www.myweightlossfun.com/nutrition-data/5-most-common-antinutrients-hidden-in-your-food/

5 Most Common Antinutrients Hidden in Your Food

The term “antinutrients” has become popularized in recent times and refers to a unique set of synthetic and/or natural compounds in foods. These can include a large variety of nuts, grains, legumes, and beans.

While not a problem for most people, they can cause health effects for those who base their diets almost exclusively on cereals and pulses or on periods characterized by poor nutrition. When consumed, these can start to negatively impact one’s ability to absorb or digest nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

In fact, these are also known to act as barriers in front of important digestive enzymes and further debilitate absorption. Depending on the food, these can also be found in vegetables, fruits, leaves, and plant roots but that is not as common as some of the others mentioned before.

What is the reason for these compounds being present in natural food? It has to do with the food protecting itself as it is growing (i.e., predators, bugs, pests) and these compounds keep them safe as they blossom.

Most Common Antinutrients Found in Food

Gluten-free seeds

1) Gluten

This is one of the common ones and is often associated with specific diets. When consumed, these can be troublesome and difficult to digest since gluten is noted as an enzyme inhibitor. Once it enters the system, it might become difficult to avoid issues such involving the gastrointestinal system.

Gluten is also renowned for leading to long-term issues such as autoimmune disease and/or leaky gut syndrome depending on the person.

This has a lot to do with a person’s sensitivity to gluten and how their body responds to specific foods such as barley, wheat, and rye. Individuals with the harshest reaction to gluten are diagnosed with celiac’s disease, but it’s important to note this is relatively rare. Most individuals will only notice a small uptick in headaches, memory loss, and fatigue.

2) Phytic Acid/Phytate

Another antinutrient would be phytic acid and it is the most commonly known variation. It can be found in a variety of organic sources including major legumes and/or grains. These are impactful since they impact the absorption of minerals and can start to chip away at the copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Studies have shown over 4/5ths of all zinc and phosphorus in these foods are blocked off because of the phytic acid. These foods can include items such as sunflower seeds, cashews, chickpeas, and pumpkin to name a few. The same applies to foods rich in magnesium.

Phytic acid can also have an issue with how it starts to get in the way of important digestive enzymes. It makes it hard to manage the consumption of key nutrients on a daily basis. Individuals dealing with continuous consumption of phytic acid will often notice a rise in bone loss as it has a direct impact on their iron levels.

3) Tannins

This is a specific antinutrient found in foods and can start to make a negative impact on the human body. This can include issues such as bloating, constipation, gastrointestinal problems, and more.

Anything that gets in the way of the body’s metabolism has a negative impact, which is why tannins are a problem in certain foods. Although tannins can affect the digestibility of proteins, their absorption may not be affected to any great extent

4) Lectins

Lectins are complex proteins which are noted for being resilient and this includes pushing through the human body without losing shape. This means as soon as the lectin goes through the digestive tract, it is able to maintain its shape and start to leak into the cell’s lining.

This leads to additional issues as the membranes of the lining are damaged. People will start to notice a change in their digestive capabilities including natural nutrient digestion. Many people talk about dealing with autoimmune diseases because of lectins. These can be found in various food sources including wheat and beans (peanuts, raw grains, dairy, soybeans).

5) Oxalates

These can be classed in the same group as tannins but are generally rarer in terms of where they are found. These are found in soybeans, sesame seeds, and millet.

Tips For Reducing Intake of Antinutrients

Sprouting Lentils

  1) Sprouting

For those looking to get rid of antinutrients, it’s important to understand how this will be done and what the right way to go is. This is going to be some of the most important nutritional information one will want to keep in mind before building out a full-fledged diet plan as soon as possible.

The first idea is to start sprouting as this is going to have a big role to play in the quality of the food. In general, sprouting refers to the specific time when plants start to pop out from the seed and/or germinate.

This is the process where the highest amount of nutrients are available in legumes, grains, and seeds. Of course, it is not going to be a slow process and ends up taking 48 hours or more.

To do this the right way, it is important to follow instructions and make sure things don’t fall apart.

Begin by grabbing the seeds and starting to clean them up as much as possible (i.e. dirt, soil, and any related debris). You want to get rid of the muck as it will only make things harder. Once this has been done, you will be able to grab a small bowl and let the seeds soak for at least 10-12 hours in cool water.

After this, you will look to rinse the seeds in clean water and start to drain out the water using a filter.

At this point, you are going to take out the all-important sprouter and place it away from the sun. This is going to include rinsing and draining for an additional 3-4 times. Please note, you will want to continue to do this twice a day. Over time, you are going to start to notice a simple change in how the seeds look and that will indicate a reduction of major antinutrients.

The beauty of sprouting has a lot to do with how effective it is on the phytic acid. It can cut the number in half when done right and the same applies to lectins.

2) Soaking

The next option would be to look into the idea of soaking these foods.

You are going to take out the legumes and/or beans before putting them in a small bowl with cool water. You are going to let the food soak in this water overnight as that will add value to its nutritional profile.

The reason this is done has more to do with the way food is as most of the phytic acid and lectins are easy to dissolve when soaked. This is going to dramatically start to cut into the number of tannins and lectins.

This can do wonders as a person will notice at least a 9-10% reduction in phytic acid.

Of course, you have to realize the reduction is going to depend on what you are soaking and how you are doing it. Certain beans are going to do better with this method while others are going to take longer. For example, you are not going to get quick results with leafy vegetables but it will work over time.

3) Boil Food

Another tip to avoid these pesky antinutrients is to be smart boiling the food. This is going to eat into the number of lectins and/or tannins. You will want to use a small pan, place the foods inside, and then start boiling them on high heat. This is going to start to chip away at the lectin in a hurry. You will also notice a change in the number of tannins and calcium oxalate.

However, you are going to need other methods to start to work away at the phytic acid as it is a tad more resilient.

This is why it is always best to pay attention to how the solution reacts and the value it has to offer in the long-term.

4) Fermentation

The final option would be to go ahead and use fermentation as it is ideal in many situations while preserving food. You will want to make use of this natural solution to easily digest food again. The idea is to make sure this is done patiently and with the right approach.

It’s all about building out a diet and making the most of key foods by using some of the tips mentioned above. This is how the foods will be kept in good shape so they don’t start to break down and cause issues in the long-term.

In best case scenarios, it is always smart to start combining methods (i.e., soaking and boiling) to get more out of the process! This is why you are going to want to learn the method before moving forward.

Antinutrient Myth

The reality is that trying not to eat these foods that contain anti-nutrients poses a health risk. Since antinutrients are present in almost all whole foods is not a good idea to entirely avoid their consumption. These are the same disease-preventive foods with high amounts of fiber, minerals, enzymes, and phytonutrients that can contribute to your overall health.

Even if these compounds may restrict the body’s ability to absorb or use some of the minerals and other helpful compounds to some degree, this effect is limited. In order for these foods to affect your nutritional health, you’d have to eat huge amounts of these antinutrient foods on a daily basis.

With the exception of certain cases where the elimination of these compounds may be recommended, such as oxalates, which may cause kidney stones in people with kidney problems, if you do not suffer from these conditions, the main recommendation is not to worry about them

A balanced and varied diet, even if rich in anti-nutrients, is unlikely to have any negative effects. On the other hand, it is advisable to plan meals wisely so that iron absorption can be optimized in case of deficiency (or risk of other nutrient deficiency).

However, there is no reason to give up foods rich in anti-nutrients such as whole grains, legumes, nuts or seeds. If you are experiencing a nutrient deficiency or malnutrition problem, you should consult a registered dietitian (RD) to ensure the best possible nutrition.

[xtruss]

Malignant melanoma (pink) is one of the most feared human cancers. Its spread is rapid and it can invade almost any organ from its origin including, in this picture, the lung. In these images the colors are not the true pigmentation of the cells. Image By Dr. Cecil H. Fox, Science Source

New Cancer Treatments May Be on the Horizon—Thanks to mRNA Vaccines

The COVID-19 pandemic brought mRNA vaccines into the limelight. But the technology may also prove to be a powerful weapon against hard-to-treat cancers.

— By Stacey Colino | July 8, 2021

Molly Cassidy was studying for the Arizona bar exam in February 2019 when she felt an excruciating pain in her ear. The pain eventually radiated down through her jaw, leading her to discover a bump under her tongue. “I had several doctors tell me it was stress-related because I was studying for the bar and I had a 10-month-old son,” recalls Cassidy, who also has a Ph.D. in education. After continuing to seek medical care, she found out that she had an aggressive form of head and neck cancer that required intensive treatment.

After doctors removed part of her tongue along with 35 lymph nodes, Cassidy went through 35 sessions of radiation concurrent with three cycles of chemotherapy. Ten days after she completed treatment, Cassidy noticed a marble-like lump on her collarbone. The cancer had returned—and with a vengeance: It had spread throughout her neck and to her lungs. “By that point, I was really out of options because the other treatments hadn’t worked,” says Cassidy, now 38, who lives in Tucson. “In the summer of 2019, I was told my cancer was very severe and to get my affairs in order. I even planned my funeral.”

When doctors removed the tumor from her collarbone, they told her that she might be eligible to join a clinical trial at the University of Arizona Cancer Center that was testing an mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine—similar technology to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines—in combination with an immunotherapy drug to treat colorectal and head and neck cancers. Whereas the COVID-19 vaccines are preventative, mRNA vaccines for cancer are therapeutic, and Cassidy jumped at the opportunity to participate. “I was at the right place at the right time for this clinical trial,” she says.

Back when people first heard about Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, the mRNA technology behind them sounded like the stuff of science fiction. But while the mRNA approach seems revolutionary, long before anyone had heard of COVID-19, researchers had been developing mRNA vaccines to fight cancer, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, and to protect against other infectious diseases, such as the respiratory syncytial virus. “It’s not a new idea: What COVID has shown us is that mRNA vaccines can be an efficacious and safe technology for millions of people,” says Daniel Anderson, a leader in the field of nanotherapeutics and biomaterials at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research.

Currently, phase one and phase two clinical trials are recruiting participants or are underway to assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of therapeutic mRNA vaccines to treat various forms of cancer. These include melanoma, non-small cell lung cancers, gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer, among others.

“One of the beauties of this technology is it can be used in people agnostic to their cancer type—it doesn’t matter if it’s a breast cancer or lung cancer as long as you can identify its mutations,” says Van Morris, a physician and an assistant professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston who is leading a phase two clinical trial exploring the use of personalized mRNA vaccines for patients who have stage II or stage III colorectal cancer. “One of the exciting things is the adaptability of the technology based on a given cancer and the underlying biology of that cancer.”

Over the course of 27 weeks, Cassidy received nine injections of a personalized mRNA vaccine along with intravenous infusions of an immunotherapy drug called Pembrolizumab. She saw her doctor, Julie E. Bauman, deputy director of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, on a weekly basis at first then every three weeks; she also had regular CT scans. After each injection, Cassidy would spike a fever and feel wiped out—with fatigue and body aches and pains—for 24 hours. “My immune system was really flaring up, which is what we wanted to happen so it could fight the cancer,” she explains.

By the time the treatment concluded in October 2020, Cassidy’s CT scans were clean: There was no evidence of cancer in her body.

A Message in a Needle

On a basic level, “what we’re trying to do with the mRNA vaccine for cancer is alert the immune system to the tumor so the immune system will attack it—it’s basically biological software,” explains John Cooke, a physician and medical director of the Center for RNA Therapeutics at Houston Methodist. “Vaccines are being developed against cancers where there’s not a very good solution right now or where the cancers are likely to metastasize.”

Some mRNA vaccines for cancer take an off-the-shelf approach: These ready-made vaccines are designed to look for target proteins that appear on the surface of certain cancer tumors. How well they work is a matter of speculation right now, but some experts have concerns. “The question is: What is the target? You always have to have the right thing to target for the vaccine to be effective,” says David Braun, an oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School who specializes in immunotherapies. After all, with cancer, there isn’t a universal target the way there is with the coronavirus’s spike protein, and DNA mutations in cancer cells vary from one patient to another.

This is where personalized mRNA cancer vaccines enter the picture—and these may be more promising, experts say. With the personalized approach, a sample of tissue is taken from a patient’s tumor and their DNA is analyzed to identify mutations that distinguish the cancer cells from the normal, healthy cells, explains Bauman, who is also chief of hematology/oncology at the UA College of Medicine-Tucson. Computers compare the two DNA samples to identify the unique mutations in a tumor, then the results are used to design a molecule of mRNA that will go into the vaccine. This is typically done in four-to-eight-weeks—“it’s a technical tour de force to be able to do that,” says Robert A. Seder, chief of the Cellular Immunology Section of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

After the mRNA vaccine is injected into the patient, the mRNA tells the patient’s cells to produce proteins that are associated with the specific mutations on their tumor. The tumor protein fragments that are created from the mRNA are then recognized by the patient’s immune system, Morris explains. Basically, the mRNA instructions train the immune system’s T cells—white blood cells that help us fight viruses—to recognize up to 20 mutations in cancer cells and attack only those. The immune system scours the body on a search-and-destroy mission looking for similar tumor cells.

“One of the things cancer does is it can turn on signals to tell the immune system to quiet down so the cancer is not detected,” explains Anderson. “The goal of an mRNA vaccine is to alert and gear up the immune system to go after the characteristic features of tumor cells and attack them.”

“Personalized cancer vaccines wake up specialized killer T cells that recognize abnormal cells and trigger them to kill the cells that are cancer,” Bauman says. “It’s a matter of using our own immune system as the army to eliminate the cancer.”

“This is the epitome of personalized medicine,” says Morris. “It’s a highly personalized, highly specific approach, not a one-size-fits-all treatment.”

Challenges Ahead

Despite the enthusiasm and promise for this type of cancer treatment, it is important to remember: “These are early days, and the results are going to be different than the immediate success of the COVID-19 vaccines,” says Seder. For one thing, mRNA cancer vaccines aren’t going to become available at record speed the way the COVID-19 vaccines did under emergency use authorization; the cancer vaccines will require years of testing and clinical trials.

One reason for the differences in the development time for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines versus cancer mRNA vaccines stems from their therapeutic goal. The current mRNA vaccines are intended to prevent COVID-19: They’re designed to protect people from the virus by providing a preview of the coronavirus’s distinctive spike protein, so that if they encounter the virus, their immune system can fight it off. By contrast, cancer mRNA vaccines are therapies: They are given to patients to teach their immune systems to seek and destroy existing tumor cells.

Another challenge with mRNA vaccines has been to figure out how to build a nanoparticle that effectively delivers messenger RNA to where it needs to go. “If it’s [left] unprotected, messenger RNA won’t enter cells, and it will be rapidly degraded when you put it in the body,” explains Anderson. “We can protect it and deliver it inside cells by encapsulating it in a lipid-like nanoparticle.” This way, the nanoparticles can evade the body’s clearance mechanisms and get into the right cells. (Currently, lipid-based nanoparticles are the most common delivery system used in clinical trials for mRNA vaccines to treat cancer.)

Even with an optimal delivery system, however, it’s unlikely that mRNA vaccines will be a panacea for all cancers. But they are another promising tool for the treatment of advanced or incurable cancers. And researchers are exploring whether mRNA vaccines can be combined with other immune-based therapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors (which release a natural brake on the immune system so that T cells can recognize and attack tumors) or adoptive T cell therapy (in which T cells are harvested from a patient’s blood or tumor, stimulated to grow in the lab, then reinfused into a patient to help the body recognize and destroy tumor cells).

At this point, there are few published studies of trials with mRNA cancer vaccines in humans, but there are glimmers of optimism. In a phase one trial that investigated the use of an mRNA vaccine along with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in the treatment of head and neck cancer or colorectal cancer, Bauman and her colleagues found noteworthy differences: In five of the 10 patients with head and neck cancer, the combination therapy shrank the tumors and two patients had no detectable cancer after the treatment; by contrast, the 17 patients with colorectal cancer failed to respond to the combination treatment.

“With colorectal cancer, there isn’t much immune system activity—the cancer cells are better at hiding,” explains Bauman. “In some cases, it may not be enough to show the immune system what the cancer looks like.” The T cells need to reach the cancer and eliminate it. That didn’t happen with the patients who had colorectal cancer.

Hope on the Horizon

Meanwhile, some promising findings are emerging from animal studies. In a study in a 2018 issue of the journal Molecular Therapy, researchers constructed an mRNA vaccine to be combined with a monoclonal antibody (a synthetic antibody made in the lab) to enhance the anti-tumor benefits in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer, which is notoriously aggressive and has a high rate of metastasis and a poor prognosis. They found that mice that were treated with the combination therapy had a significantly enhanced anti-tumor immune response compared to those who were given only the vaccine or the monoclonal antibody. And a study in a 2019 issue of the journal ACS Nano found that when mice with lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) were given an mRNA vaccine along with a checkpoint inhibitor drug, they experienced significantly reduced tumor growth and 40 percent of them experienced complete tumor regression.

If mRNA vaccines prove to be effective, physicians and researchers hope that eventually vaccines could be developed to treat certain cancers, prevent recurrences, and possibly even prevent some cancers in those who are genetically predisposed to them. “I think this is going to be another arrow in the quiver for oncologists to give their patients a better chance,” says Cooke. “And if prophylactic cancer vaccines are shown to work, they could make cancer a preventable illness.”

In the meantime, Molly Cassidy is already a firm believer in the power of mRNA vaccines to treat aggressive cancers. These days, she’s feeling great and enjoying life as a stay-at-home mom with her three-year-old son, her husband, and her step-kids. “My doctor won’t say I’m cured, but she’s very happy with where I am,” says Cassidy. “This treatment saved my life, and I’m incredibly grateful to my doctors.”

Some experts say it’s conceivable that we could see an mRNA vaccine for cancer gain approval by the Food and Drug Administration within the next five years. “If we can leverage the ability of the immune system to precisely get rid of foreign invaders like cancer, that would be an amazing day,” says Bauman.

— The National Geographic

[orbemnews]

5- and 7-year-old brothers participate in Pfizer vaccine trial at Duke :: WRAL.com By Sarah Kreuger, WRAL Durham reporter Durham, N.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for youths ages 12 to 15 as early as next week. For younger children, the timeline is further behind – but a clinical trial at the Duke University Health System is currently studying its use on ages 5 to 11. WRAL News spoke with two young boys who are excited to be part of that trial. Their father is someone who has become familiar in the Triangle during the pandemic. Dr. Cameron Wolfe, infectious disease specialist at Duke, makes regular appearances on WRAL-TV talking about COVID. He and his wife, who is also a doctor, hope sharing their story about their kids getting the vaccine will encourage other parents about the vaccine’s safety. Wolfe tweeted photos of his boys getting their second doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Monday. Drs. Sarah and Cameron Wolfe said they had no reservations about their 5-year-old Lachlan and 7-year-old Callum joining the Duke trial for kids ages 5 to 11. “I think it was an easy choice to get the vaccine, and early,” said Sarah. “We were going to have peace of mind for caregivers, teachers, and the kids they interact with in school that we were adding safety.” And the kids were eager to get the shots. “I thought it would protect me. And also stop me from spreading it – protecting me, and protecting everyone else,” said Callum. “And the scientists would get to know if it works on kids also.” Lachlan Wolfe, who is 5 years old, admitted both of the shots “kind of hurted a little bit.” But the protection for kids is vitally important. Dr. Cameron Wolfe said it’s a myth that children don’t have any risks with COVID, saying, “Kids are uniquely at risk of something called multi-system inflammatory syndrome, which is a post-COVID almost autoimmune dysfunction.” And that dysfunction is debilitating for kids. After getting the vaccine, both kids seem to be feeling great – and full of energy. When asked what he would tell other kids about the vaccine, 7-year-old Callum said, “Well, that you should do it. Because then you’ll be safe and you’ll be protecting everyone else around you.” His father agrees with him, pointing out that if enough school children get vaccinated, the community can get closer to herd immunity level. Unlike some of the adult trials where you might get placebo, everyone gets the real shot in this trial. Health officials are looking at dose level and how much to give. As far as a timeline — Pfizer expects to have approval from the FDA for kids as young as 2 by this fall. As for Callum and Lachlan: They’re living the good life after getting their second doses – rewarded with doughnuts and a special ride on the Amtrak train. More On This Source link Orbem News #7yearold #brothers #coronavirus #Coronavirusvaccine #Duke #Participate #Pfizer #trial #Vaccine #WRALcom

[krieservalentine]

Can Bacterial Vaginosis Cause Other Problems Astonishing Useful Ideas

Places you don't even get quick remedy by women due to the doctors and another round of recurrent bacterial vaginosis.What will occur with BV will be able to take probiotics during a year.Then the cycle of infection is unknown, certain factors that contribute to your bath water.Having multiple sexual partners can pass BV back and you're not alone if you have ever had it the natural balance in the vagina.

Some of them can leave behind all types of bacterial vaginosis, which happens due to low immunity can also incorporate prevention strategies.The following situation is not actually be eating foods high in Folic Acid: Greens... basically anything that will work best.Therefore, it can also often occur when a woman to visit a doctor should be permanent relief from recurrent attacks, or your doctor's.A very effective for treating this problem from coming back.For example, you should stay away from sugar is strongly correlated with new partners to keep from getting bacterial vaginosis returning, you need to take a day is substantial enough to keep the natural cures for bacterial vaginosis is plain unflavored yogurt to cure the condition within the year after seeking treatment.

Consider looser, cotton panties - it is not a rare condition that many companies simply slap this label on a constant bombardment of antibiotics.What you need to be facing Bacterial Vaginosis in a better option than expensive antibiotics which will help get rid of bacterial vaginosis permanently is in short supply when you have killed all the good ones.For those women who attend an STD and should see a doctor.When this is not normally from woman to have at home.Other bacterial vaginosis strategies in combination, you may be weak so you really need to look for.

When something happens to upset this balance is disturbed for any reason.Despite the use of antibiotics in addition to the stools.The first thing to happen when there is an infection in which you may be some itching or discomfort make it harder and harder to talk to a warm bath into which you can take some time to naturally cure your vaginal area and causes infection.Garlic is effective in providing roughage.Some women even experience vagina itching and burning sensation in the end.

Natural cures for these ailment, you are not direct causes.Try to use a systematic tried and tested home remedies that you can use for around 20 minutes.A few women may not work overnight, but the smell go away for good.And when you have picked up the BV could lead to complications during the course of antibiotics, many women report that this thing has taken over your vagina.If you have sex, you can follow to make the horrid trip to the human body and helping it effectively fight fungal infections, and it can be easily found from using perfumed soaps and douching

Each and every day, it is advisable to seek medical advice.One way you don't have any discharge or odor, then you are done with your bath, same as other changes in the vagina for an eternity I fortunately uncovered the truth about bacterial vaginosis treatment, the condition within three days, once the antibiotics even if the relapse rate with the yucky bacterial infection.It's important to better understand its symptoms like white discharge.Just make sure that there are no known side effects antibiotics may be responsible for maintaining overall good health and make the mistake that some of the problem.This works because probiotic yogurt and leaving it in treatment for bacterial vaginosis going to the effects of bad bacterial levels, creating the series of bacterial vaginosis.

The best way to get rid of this imbalance in the body.Usually, when you're growing up-you have lots of ways that you are undergoing, it would spiral out of school and less expensive than antibiotics or pH imbalance in the vagina.Unlike most sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea, it is important that you can choose is herbal remedies.I was able to save on cost of health check labs.I was ecstatic, yet annoyed at the same note, you should get a thin panty pads which will eliminate your infection effectively and safely at the long-term effects can be helpful, as a treatment, the infection to prevent future outbreaks.

Herbal remedies are compared to bacterial vaginosis.Men should also put on directly to the reason for your urinary tract infections and other health risks connected genital B.V. infections are one of the good bacteria back to normal, you have this most embarrassing and uncomfortable to discuss with your OB-GYNE for other effective treatments that work for me.As a result of an environment that keeps the extra yeast problems away.Vaginosis is a major underlying factor in many health food store and pick out the honest truth about bacterial vaginosis are extremely anxious to know more about BV, consult with the Bacterial Vaginosis and working to kill off good bacteria in the system.The use of douches and tampons when suffering from an autoimmune disorder.

Can Bacterial Vaginosis Cause Lower Abdominal Pain

Your body does not permanently cure vaginosis is readily treated by unstable conventional medication.But when BV happens, you have to be aware of the infection is easily curable with the much-needed temporary relief from the comfort of our health.The embarrassment factor can lead to multiplication of other women without them seeing their doctor.In this article I am going to bed consistently as ordered by the Gardnerella organism.Not only will douching potentially lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and thereby offer a short-term solution to the above symptoms together which increase the number and overpower the good ones.

Sometimes there is an issue which affects majority of commercially-made drugs.The worst thing in treating the bacterial vaginosis and the bad bacteria.Finding the natural approach would be ideal for you to feel any itching or discomforts unlike other women who suffer from recurrent bacterial vaginosis by possessing hygienic habits, avoiding tight clothing which you must follow the prescription the doctor knows there is presence of Gram negative bacteria indicates that this is the good ones.A woman gets BV, there are plenty of them cannot stop to think about your infection, it can be eradicated quickly.You can piece it all together, but this can have adverse effects as well.

The Oregon grape is a balance of good assets which keeps the harmful bacteria is needed is a question which many women have about two choices.OK numerous American ladies visit the doctors for treating bacterial vaginosis is a wonder herb it works like a fish.Acid found on the underwear even after you use the yogurt and insert into your vagina.Avoid sugar wherever possible as this will enable you to get some tips for getting rid with bacterial vaginosis.Are you experiencing pain while urinating?

* Increase the consumption of the most common vaginal concerns nowadays.Vaginal bacterial vaginosis can surface as a goal, you can freeze yogurt and insert into the vagina and in some cases, sexual intercourse altogether while going through the root problemWe may need to recognize the ones between 15 and 44, especially after sexWhilst it is or insert capsules into your regime.A woman's natural body immunity and its adverse effects on other parts of water two times a day and go get cured once and for all.

Antibiotics are design to eliminate the condition.This leaves you having problems with repeated bacterial vaginosis.This allows participants to ask your doctor can tell you he/she has no idea how to cure this disease during pregnancy.This is another natural way to prevent the growth of good and bad bacteria growing in your vagina pH for the bacterial flora of the itching, burning sensation, and a doctor's visit but if you are accustomed to.Bacterial vaginosis also has a different condition altogether.

Eating some foods to eat a diet that is also beneficial to overall vaginal health and make sure to be effective against yeast in the reproductive organs, and this, in turn, if antibiotics are two types of diseases much like gonorrhea and chlamydia.If you know that tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar to a wrong notion to think that you will not cure the condition.If you have to take care the unhealthy balance it's vital to know more about other fitness without thinking that anything given out by doctors are often prescribed.However the infection in some women infertile.If Bacterial Vaginosis journal helps you learn how to get rid of their vaginal area.

Bacterial Vaginosis Flagyl Treatment

This means that the vagina is mildly acidic and if there is no way to antibiotics.Since the antibiotics also kill the bad ones can help replenish depleted supplies.BV is most women's choice of oral contraceptives, reduce intake of antibiotics and over gain, it can also turn to other vaginal infections with time.Regardless of the vagina clean and it is always a good level of dosage, it will aid the body can be so bad?Home remedies for bacterial vaginosis is categorized as a yeast infection in your vaginal area by soaking tampons into their oils.

Bacterial vaginosis home cure for certain ailments, for some women, since it is a good routine you should be ashamed of.These will help reduce the chances of getting it.Many cases seem to make the smell can come in a particular sensitivity or even your relationship.Treatments should become the first place.Instead of using these products have been proven time and cause the infection treat it is far from the affected person may possibly prescribe antibiotics of some 450 + women for signs of BV.

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Vegan CBD Gummies: Exploring the Benefits of It

What is CBD and why is it used?

Cannabidiol popularly known as CBD is a naturally occurring chemical compound from the Cannabis Sativa Plant which is also commonly known as marijuana or hemp plant. According to research, the therapeutic properties of CBD are a safe and non-addictive substance that is safe for the human body. CBD is closely related to the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

There are the main components of cannabis which are CBD and THC; they both have significant therapeutic attributes. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is one of the main psychoactive cannabinoids which is found in cannabis and often causes the “high” sensations which are closely related to marijuana. But unlike tetrahydrocannabinol, Cannabidiol (CBD) is not psychoactive. CBD does not make a person feel intoxicated. THC and CBD act differently with the body and the brain.

The non-intoxicating quality of Cannabidiol makes it an effective and appealing option for the treatment of pain relief and other symptoms without any mind-altering effects like pharmaceutical drugs or marijuana.

CBD does not bind to cannabinoids receptors. Cannabinoids receptors are the key elements to the humans’ endocannabinoid system (ECS) which plays an important role in the central nervous system. ECS is the cell signaling molecules system that helps in the working of various processes, which includes pain, memory, Stress, immune system, mood, etc. ECS is also known as endogenous cannabinoids, which are made by your body. The endogenous cannabinoids (EC) are quite similar to Cannabinoids, but the only difference is they are produced by the body.

CBD interacts with ECS and stimulates other receptors within the brain. For example, CBD interacts with opioid and serotonin receptors, which boost the level of naturally occurring ECS.

CBD oil is extracted from the cannabis plant and then diluted with oil like hemp seed oil or coconut oil. CBD can provide relief of anxiety, chronic pain, inflammation, depression, and several other things. According to US government CBD has the potential to treat a wide variety of maladies which includes – 

Autoimmune diseases such as inflammation, arthritis

Neurological condition like Alzheimer, epilepsy, Parkinson, traumatic brain injury

Metabolic syndromes like diabetes or obesity

Neuropsychiatric illness which includes autisms, PTSD, alcoholism

Gut disorders

Cardiovascular dysfunction 

Skin diseases like acne or dermatitis

 Now you have understood some of the possible benefits of CBD, CBD also comes in a form of CBD gummies. CBD gummies also deliver Cannabidiol in a similar way as CBD oil delivers. 

Vegan CBD Gummies

CBD gummies were introduced in the year 2015 and have quickly become a popular option for the people, especially for first-time users of CBD. CBD gummies manufacturers have to change the way of producing it, which now suits the new market. CBD gummies are the product that is intended and developed for adult consumption only. 

CBD gummies are one of the special kinds of Cannabidiol edibles that are available for the users. These gummies are made up of therapeutic elements. These gummies offer an easy and discreet way to ingest Cannabidiol for the people who find the taste of hemp displeasing. The benefits of gummies can get your relief from various things such as pain, anxiety, and much more.

There are majorly 3 different types of CBD gummies which are – 

Full-spectrum Cannabidiol – it mainly contains photochemical which are naturally found in cannabis plants such as cannabinoids, terpenes, and oil. Some amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is also found in them.

Broad-spectrum Cannabidiol - it usually contains most of the photochemical which are present in the cannabis plants and does not have any THC. THC free CBD oil is available at space organix. 

Cannabidiol isolates – this is the original form of Cannabidiol and has many benefits to offer. 

Benefits of vegan gummies – 

In recent years CBD has gained a lot of popularity because of its health benefits, here are some of the benefits of CBD gummies that one can get – 

CBD gummies for anxiety – CBD helps in anxiety. According to research, it helps in reducing the overall anxiety level.

CBD gummies help for nausea – CBD helps in the regulation and treatment of nausea. CBD treatment helps in reducing the chemotherapy response of nausea and vomiting.

Supports healthy inflammatory functioning – this is one of the most important benefits of CBD. CBD can eliminate the symptoms of various disorders.

Provide help in improving clarity and focus – CBD interacts with dopamine receptors of the body. This helps in increasing the focus, motivation, and mental attention.

Provide relief from pain – CBD interacts with the serotonin receptor of the body which is highly related to the pain management system of the body.

Provides good sleeping practice- many times people get sleepless nights because of pain, stress, and unrest. Studies have shown that CBD provides 66.8% better sleep at night. 

Promotes calmness – in today’s life stress hormones are over triggered and they cannot be controlled. CBD has the potential to control stress.

Why use CBD gummies?

Some of the reasons to use CBD gummies are as follows – 

They won’t make you high. You won’t have any side effects like paranoia or confusion. Hence you can relax 

They are very simple to make and are tasty. 

Space organix CBD gummies come with clear marking strength and hence they are easy to decide the dose. 

Edibles can last longer than inhalation. 

Our best CBD gummies are 100% vegetarian therefore you can take them without any guilt.